Castle Leslie Wedding - Jenny and Stephen

You can tell a lot about people by the company they keep. Stephen has spent years living and travelling all over, picking up traces of different accents and, more importantly, close friends in every corner of the world. It’s easy to see why - he’s warm, sharp, and irreverently funny. I think Jenny used the word “cheeky,” and we’d say that’s pretty spot on (in the best possible way).

Castle Leslie is absolutely breathtaking, inside, outside, every corner of it. Jenny’s plan was to have as much of the day outdoors as possible, soaking in the surroundings. While the weather didn’t quite cooperate for the ceremony itself, it was brilliant to see so many guests from all over the world enjoying the gardens during the drinks reception. There's nothing quite like the grand surroundings of it all.

Like many couples lately, Jenny and Stephen opted for a first look before the ceremony. It meant most of the main portraits were already done early in the day. We then grabbed some more photos while their guests were being seated for dinner. This meant that they were able to enjoy their full drinks reception without having to nip off for photos. 

One of the standout moments of the day came during the drinks reception when Jenny’s sister, Annabel, sat down at the grand piano in the castle. You never quite know what you’re in for when someone takes to that piano. Usually it's alcohol rather than talent that compels them. But Annabel was something else. Her performance was genuinely incredible, and the entire room fell silent just to take it in. Proper goosebumps stuff.

Massive shoutout to our friend  Rory McKeever on video duties. A total legend, as always, and just one more reason the whole day ran like a dream.

Greencastle, Tyrone Wedding - Helen and Ryan

For those of you that follow our blog, Helen and Ryan are one of the many couples that booked us on the recommendation of Beth and Stephen, who we've seen at a bazillion weddings (including their own). And of course, it was at Beth and Stephen's wedding that we first bumped into Helen and Ryan. 

Helen, like ourselves, is from west Tyrone, but had to go all the way to the USA to find her soulmate, Ryan. And you know what, we'd say it was worth the trip - he's a top lad! And he brought a whole squad of his family and friends over to the tiny village of Greencastle for the wedding. 

Sometimes Americans have an idea in their heads that Ireland is all fields and old cottages and we spend most of our time drinking and doing ceiles in barns. And as much as we might want to dispel that stereotype, Helen and Ryan's wedding was on Helen's family farm. In a field. Next to some old cottages. And yes, there was a ceile. In a barn. And there was an open bar... Ok, ok, so maybe that's exactly who we are. 

We genuinely couldn’t have loved this wedding more. There were sunshine and rainbows (like, literal rainbows), loads of laughs, and the kind of laid-back energy that makes the day fly by. One of those weddings where the couple and their friends and families made us feel more like guests than photographers.

Larchfield Estate Wedding - Isobel and John

Our first Larchfield wedding of 2025! And a brilliant one to kick off the year at one of our favourite venues. Isobel and John couldn’t have been a better match for the place: totally chilled out, great craic, and a joy to be around from start to finish. Isobel, your perfectly dry sense of humour kept us laughing all day.

After battling the West Belfast school-run traffic, arriving at Larchfield felt like stepping into another world. It’s hard to believe somewhere so calm and quiet is just half an hour from the city.

One of our favourite touches was the speeches in the courtyard. Having them outside made everything feel more relaxed and informal, and seemed to put the speakers at ease. There’s something about standing under the open sky with a glass in hand that takes the pressure off.

After dinner, we had time for a few more portraits as the light dropped -  always worth it at Larchfield, with its winding paths, old stone walls, and soft evening light. A quick breather for the couple before the dancefloor filled up and the party properly kicked off.

A class day with a couple who knew exactly how to keep it all feeling easy and fun. More like this, please.

Finnebrogue Woods Wedding - Katie and James

Here’s something we learned at Katie and James’s wedding. Put an Essex lad in a field with a pint of Guinness, and the Irish DNA kicks in almost immediately. Accent aside, we’re convinced James is completely Irish. It's not just the Guinness either, it’s the love for Donegal and the deep, heartfelt commitment to planning stuff around the weather.

When it came to choosing a venue, Katie and James were completely sold on the outdoor charm of Finnebrogue Woods. There's also something very entertaining about watching city friends navigate a field in heels and dress shoes. To their credit, they adapted quickly. Turns out, a few drinks go a long way towards making grass more manageable.

Wanting to maximise time with their guests (many of whom had travelled a fair distance), Katie and James made the smart call to do most of their formal photos before the ceremony. It's a move we often recommend. There's less pressure later in the day, and everyone looks fresh before the hugs, weather, and drink take hold.

They had a beautiful humanist ceremony, led by the brilliant Jean Barrett Quinn, followed by a full-blown confetti storm leading up to the reception. From there, it was full tilt into the evening party, and when we left, it was still going strong.

Big shoutout to the incredible supplier team who helped make it all happen:
Hair and makeup legends Tippy Logronio and Ciara Armstrong kept the morning running like clockwork. The stunning florals were by Floral Earth, and Lily Pink Bakery delivered yet again with that unreal cake. Owen Donnelly and Crystal Dawn kept the drinks reception going, and The Luna Boys took it up a level for the evening. And last but not least, Matthew from Trinity Films is an all-round gent and our new partner in crime! Dream team.

Old Court Strangford Wedding - Natalie and Connor

There aren’t many venues in Northern Ireland that can compete with Old Court in Strangford. It’s full of charm, character, and stunning views over the lough - but when the weather shows up like it did for Natalie and Connor, the place is genuinely unbeatable.

The ceremony was something special: an outdoor humanist service under the shade of trees, with the water sparkling just beyond. And midway, a heron casually flew in and a tiny dog turned up out of nowhere to take it all in. There must be an old Irish saying about dogs and herons at your wedding meaning good luck. If not, we’re starting one.

Natalie and Connor chose to skip the usual morning prep coverage and have us start at the ceremony instead. More and more couples are opting for this, especially when the priority is candids of the party unfolding. It also gave us time later to explore the grounds properly and make the most of that golden hour light. We ducked out just before dinner for portraits in the warm evening sun, and it was absolutely worth it.

The vibe all day was exactly what you'd hope for; laid-back and never too serious. Natalie and Connor don’t do stiff or formal - they're there for the craic, plain and simple. One of our favourite memories is Natalie on the swing, laughing her head off as her dress trailed back and forth along the ground gathering muck. Somewhere, a dressmaker is crying but Natalie couldn’t have cared less. 

And then there was the dancing. A lot of dancing. And glowstick thingys. Very few DJs can start a party like Mark from Bespoke Music Solutions. This was one of those weddings where you know the buffet was going to be ignored as an unnecessary distraction to the dancing. 

If you’re planning a wedding at Old Court, or anywhere with a bit of space, scenery, and flexibility,  take a leaf out of Natalie and Connor’s book: keep it simple, surround yourself with your favourite people, and never worry too much about the dress.

Castle Leslie Estate Wedding - Hannah and Declan

We love a Castle Leslie Wedding. It’s one of those great venues that has everything going for it in all seasons and weathers. But when the sun shines, it’s utterly spectacular.

Hannah and Declan got married during our mini May heatwave in my hometown of Omagh. Hannah lived up the road from me growing up. Her dad was briefly Deci’s PE teacher. The fact he has no memory of having taught him tells you all you need to know about his sporting skills. Nonetheless, we loved the warm welcome we got in her gorgeous home.

Hannah is one of those people that’s completely unflappable. We loved how she just coasted through her wedding day like it was just like any other day of the week (but with added prosecco).

Declan isn’t from Omagh but that’s ok, we still somehow managed to warm to him nonetheless. Although, we were dismayed that he apparently thinks our favourite chippy, Cod and Cow, is overrated. I guess everyone is entitled to opinions, no matter how wrong they are.

Poulaphouca House Wedding - Beth and Stephen

We have crossed paths with Beth and Stephen at so many weddings over the years. We have photographed them in bridal parties, family groups, and often just caught them in the background, doing their best to avoid the camera. By the time their own wedding came around, they were probably well and truly sick of the sight of us.

And what a wedding it was. We always love a trip to County Wicklow. It is so close to the buzz of Dublin, but once you arrive it feels like the rest of the world melts away. This was our first time at Poulaphouca. It took us a lot of attempts before we could say its name without butchering it.

The venue itself is wonderful. It is built around the idea of being outdoors and embracing the weather, whatever it brings. We love that kind of optimism. Luckily, Beth and Stephen got married in the middle of our unexpected little May heatwave. There is something special about a space that manages to pack so much charm into a relatively small area. You can nip off for photos without vanishing for ages or wandering a million miles away from the celebration.

We had so much craic at this wedding. A big part of that was down to the number of familiar faces. We counted a half a dozen couples we had photographed before, and a few more who have booked us for the future. We always love catching up with our couples on down the line.

And then there’s Beth and Stephen. Two absolutely amazing people - easygoing, warm and full of craic. This was class from start to finish.

St.Malachy's Belfast and Balloo House Wedding - Emma & John

Let’s get this bit out of the way first. Emma and John got married in New York, where they both live, and they did not have a wedding photographer to capture it. We are still not quite over the fact they did not ask us to fly out. We may forgive them eventually.

After eloping in New York, they decided to hold a small ceremony in Belfast to celebrate with friends and family at home, along with plenty of others who had travelled in from all over. Emma is from Belfast, but John’s Cork family looked completely at ease in the Belfast sunshine.

The ceremony took place at St Malachy’s Church in the city centre, which is, for more reasons than we can explain here, one of our absolute favourites to photograph. It is the kind of building that makes you stop in your tracks. And there’s a good chance you will leave with a sore neck from staring up at that incredible ceiling.

After the ceremony we took a few quick portraits around the church before following a busload of guests to Balloo House, just outside Killinchy. Weddings in restaurants always feel different, in the best way. There is a calmness to them. It’s like a bit of the formality is loosened slightly.

It was one of those days where everything felt effortless and cool. Yeah, ok, it wasn’t NYC but still, it was pretty perfect.

Cyprus Avenue Wedding - Joan and Eddy

Joan and Eddy wanted their wedding to feel simple and relaxed, with no unnecessary fuss, and their photos reflect that. This was our first time photographing a wedding at Cypress Avenue in East Belfast, tucked just off the Newtownards Road, it is full of character and charm. We already knew the food was fantastic, but seeing the venue come to life for a wedding with people, music and good energy made it feel even more special. If great food is high on your list of wedding priorities, it is well worth a look.

After a lovely humanist ceremony, we stayed mostly in the background, capturing quiet moments as guests chatted, sipped cocktails, and enjoyed the canapés. Joan and Eddy are not ones for the spotlight, so the focus was never just on them. It was about the day as a whole, and the people they love.

That said, we did manage to sneak them away for a short walk over to the greenway, stopping on the way to admire the cherry blossoms lining Cypress Avenue. They were in full bloom, and the spring light filtering through was a bit magical.

What stood out most about the day was the ease of it all. It was just a joyful celebration of two people doing things their way. The kind of day that reminds you how good the simple things can be.